"The key is - you must not give in to peer pressure " - Ankit Goel, Topper - First Year MBA at IIM Kozhikode

The first year of MBA is for many B schoolers, a defining period in their academic life. It is here that they are exposed to a smorgasbord of activities - academic, co-curricular and extra-curricular, and most students struggle to strike the right balance among all three. In the first year, enthusiasm for studies is quite high because students know that their first year grades will be considered while shortlisting for final placements. The perks of a top-20 rank in the first year are many - starting from direct shortlists for many investment banking, consulting roles, to scholarships, and many other special opportunities. Thus, there is fierce competition, with at least 80-100 students on each campus actively working hard on academics. Securing a top-20 spot in a batch of 400 is no mean feat in itself. However, topping the MBA course and finishing the first year as rank one is an order of magnitude higher in difficulty. It takes a military level of determination, self-control, and courage to finish the year as Rank One. You have to be consistent and stay motivated in each and every exam. No wonder toppers are revered by the batch for this one achievement - because everybody knows just how difficult it is to achieve it.